Please comment on this build.

[jb291]

Please let me know what you guys think about this build. I've been reading this site for information and ideas for a new pc. I plan on sending $2500. I want it to be ready for 10x and vista. I mostly do gaming on it but I don't plan on oc'ing. Let me know where I need to upgrade or downgrade in these specs. All price info came from Newegg. I have nothing set in stone so I can change anything on this list. Thanks, any suggestion would help. Jim

CHENMING 901AD-BLACK-0 Black 1.0mm SECC ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $69.99

Intel BOXD975XBXLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $279.99

eVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail $649.99

SeaSonic S12-600 ATX12V 600W Power Supply - Retail $154.99 -$10.00 Instant $144.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail $308.00

OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P800R22GK - Retail
Mail-in Rebate $249.99 - $30 = $219.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Mail-in Rebate $99.99 - $10 = $89.99

Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM Mail-in Rebate $159.99 - $20 = $139.99

Logitech G15 2-Tone USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail $71.99

Acer AL1916Fbd Black 19" 2ms (GTG) LCD Monitor - Retail $215.99

Logitech G7 931375-0403 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1x Wheel USB RF Laser Mouse - Retail $69.99

LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHW-160P6S-04 - Retail $31.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM
$89.99
Subtotal: $2,442.88 - rebates($60) =

TOTAL $2382.88

[OrbitzXT]

I'm building a new PC as well in preparation for Vista. I picked out the same processor as you, similar RAM and power supply. I also own an Acer AL1917 LCD (Very nice). The only real difference between the system you're building and my own is you're going to pay a ton of cash for something you can't use now, the 8800, also there are better motherboards that are much cheaper than the Intel one you picked out.

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel is what I will most likely go with. I've purchased Gigabyte in the past and have very good experiences with them. Also many many users who use the E6600 use this motherboard and virtually all have extremely positive experiences. I'm not saying the Intel board will be bad, they're usually very stable but not good at overclocking. However, you stated you're not interested in OCing.

The 8800 gives me mixed feelings. D10 & Vista will be here in January. This reminds me somewhat of 64-bit processors, they've been around for awhile now and games/software haven't taken advantage of this yet for the most part. I'm not sure how quickly games will be released for Vista. If companies rush to produce Vista only games they aren't going to be bought because not everyone has the cash and desire to update their system immediately.

To have a system ready for Vista and D10 games when they are readily available, that is when I will buy a new video card to replace the XFX GeForce 7950GT I'm gonna get in my system. There is the argument "Why spend $300 when you can spend $600 and be D10 ready and a much faster card?". Well by the time games are available, I expect the lower end D10 cards (The 8800, which will be considered low end by then) to be much cheaper. And then I can spend more cash on a-then higher card.

Its really up to you obviously. You seem to have the cash to blow and if money isn't a concern, which you never really said it was, then I guess go and buy what you have picked it. Its a powerful system and will be for a long time.

[jb291]

Yeah, you are right about the card and mb. I don't have unlimited amount of money but I was shooting for $2500 max. I updated the specs again, let me know what you think. Also the prices are from newegg, but some of the parts I've seen cheaper. I also added 2 more drives and changed the ram. This ram is rated by evga to work correctly with mb and is sli rated.

This seems to be it. Let me know what you think. Thanks orbitzxt for posting!

CHENMING 901AD-BLACK-0 Black 1.0mm SECC ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $69.99

eVGA 122-CK-NF68-AR Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $259.99 This mb can be upgraded to quad core and also can fit 2 8800 cards in sli. Seen really good reviews on this.

XFX PVT71JYHE9 GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP ExTreme Edition Video Card - Retail $299.99

SeaSonic S12-600 ATX12V 600W Power Supply - Retail $154.99 -$10.00 Instant $144.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail $308.00

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail $252.00 after $40 rebate

2 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Mail-in Rebate $99.99 - $10 = $89.99 x 2= 179.98

2 Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM Mail-in Rebate $159.99 - $20 = $139.99 x 2 = $279.99

Logitech G15 2-Tone USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail $71.99

Acer AL1916Fbd Black 19" 2ms (GTG) LCD Monitor - Retail $215.99

Logitech G7 931375-0403 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1x Wheel USB RF Laser Mouse - Retail $69.99

LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHW-160P6S-04 - Retail $31.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM
$89.99

NEW
TOTAL $2275

[OrbitzXT]

It seems good, though only make the changes if you really feel what I said makes sense to you and you agree with it. There is nothing wrong with going ahead and getting an 8800 now if you wanted to spend the money on it. Both are powerful systems, its just how you choose to approach the video card situation.

[jlreich]

I agree there is nothing wrong with getting an 8800 right now if you want one. If you don't get one I would drop down to a $200-$250 (max) card myself, and wait it out until the prices drop and we get a better selection of DX10 cards out there. It just isn't worth putting that much money into a video card that is now old news IMO. But it's up to you. If you feel you can't do with anything less than a 7950GT, it's your money.

One thing to think about. With the 680i mobo and the 8800 your are on the bleeding edge on technology. Which is great, but it is also common to have to work out several bugs that creep up when the bleeding edge is released to the general public.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to scare you away from it. I just want you to be aware of potential problems, and the lack of quick fixes for them when everything is new.

If I had that kind of money to build a system I would go with the new generation mobo. :cool:

[jb291]

OrbitzXT just gave me some good advice about the 8800 card. Alittle common sense is more like it. DX10 cards will come down in price and waiting for them is a better idea. I haven't build a pc in years, just upgrades here and there. I like to start out with good parts for a build. The mb is getting pretty good reviews and I can add to it down the road. I don't plan on build this pc until I move out to Cali in January. So hopefully the prices will drop even more. Thanks again. I'll keep reading up on the parts and update the list if something comes up. IE I heard the dx10 cards are power hogs, may have to upgrade the psu if that is the case.

[jlreich]

Sounds like a solid plan. :cool:

BTW I do like the fact that you changed to Corsair ram. Much better than the OCZ stuff.

[bstard]

Seems like this is the custom building season :)
I too am in the process of building my 1st custom build....lemme know what you think...

Asus Crosshair ROG Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5200+ Windsor Processor
Zalman 9700LED CPU Cooler
OCZ 2GB PC6400 800MHz Titanium DDR2 SDRAM
EVGA e-GeForce 7600 GT Graphics Card 256MB DDR3 Memory
2 Western Digital 150GB 10K Raptor SATA Hard Drives
1 Western Digital RE2 500GB SATA 3.0/Gbs Hard Drive for storage
Plextor 760a DVD Burner
Lian Li v1200b PlusII Case
OCZ GameXstream 700W Power Supply
Windows XP Pro SP2

[rond36]

jb291
I think the SeaSonic S12-600 ATX12V 600W Power Supply should be fine for your build.

bstard, Welcome to The PC Guide Forums!

You need to start your own thread if you want feed back on your build. It gets very confusing replying to a thread with more than one system involved.

To start a new thread go back to the Buying and Upgrading Advice (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=9) Forum and click on the http://www.pcguide.com/vb/images/buttons/newthread.gif button.